jkull_10's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Alcohol, Classism, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Outing, Hate crime, Grief, Abandonment, Classism, Death, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Alcohol, Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Deportation, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Mental illness, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Gaslighting, War, Medical content, Violence, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, and Infertility
knockoffrainbow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Alcohol, Biphobia, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Classism, Gaslighting, Racism, Hate crime, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: War, Abortion, Deportation, and Alcohol
tessvosper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Deportation, Hate crime, Racism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Alcohol, Colonisation, Lesbophobia, Xenophobia, Outing, and War
Moderate: Classism
leweylibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Quotes:
- They had been in the same classes together for years, but it was as if they had been figurines on an automated diorama, moving on mechanical tracks that approached each other but never intersected until now. Today they had broken free from those prescribed grooves, and Lily was acutely aware of the unprecedented nature of their new friendliness. (56)
- America had given her so much in the 4 years since she arrived, but it also regularly reminded her of how it saw people like her. (305)
-Lily felt as if she were stuck on a broken track and a diorama, as if she were not herself, but merely the figurine of a Chinese girl that kept jerking back to the beginning rather than continuing through her miniature world. It was clear that if she agreed with her mother--and Shirley--if she would only tell them what they wanted to hear, then she can move forward on her prescribed path. But that would mean a racing all of her trips to the Telegraph Club; It would mean denying her desire to go at all. It meant suppressing her feelings for Kath, and at that moment, her feelings seem to swell inside her. So painfully that she was terrified she might burst. (327) - "But we're never what our parents expected. They have to learn that lesson." (339)
- A few hours at home and the Telegraph Club seemed more like a fantasy than a real thing. This troubled her. It felt as if someone had taken an eraser to her memory--to her very self--and rubbed at it, then blown away the remains. (369)
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Sexual content, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcohol and Misogyny
Minor: Drug use, Classism, Forced institutionalization, and Police brutality
calicat42's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Deportation, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Body shaming, Classism, Alcohol, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Abandonment
parasolcrafter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Outing, Classism, Bullying, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: War, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
swaggyfrog's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Deportation, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Outing, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Classism
quillreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, Lesbophobia, Sexism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Child abuse, Outing, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage, Classism, Deportation, and Drug use
bashsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Lesbophobia, Classism, Xenophobia, Outing, Sexual content, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Deportation, and Alcohol
Moderate: War and Racial slurs
Minor: Cursing and Drug use
Note on the racial slurs: since the text takes place in the 50s, the author decided to use some terms that are now outdated or even offensive. She explains her decision to so in her author's note.